"daddy is worrying about getting to his snooker match tonight, mummy is worried about driving to work.........ooohhhhh, I don't know...........I don't know what all the fuss is about....."

Thanks to all of you who tried to help me find the author of the police books I used to read. (about 20 years ago)
I went to the library and had a good look at the crime novels.
Well, unfortunatley I could not find any that was printed all those years ago!
Reg Hill of Diesel and Pascoe come the closest (the way he writes was the way my author wrote) if you get my meaning, but that was only written a few years ago so obviously it isn't him.
As I said the author was a detective himself , in London I believe, and when he retired he turned author.
Also I have been on the computer for authors 20 years ago, there are quite a few of them but still I haven't come across those books.
So, I think I'll have to leave it now.

Perhaps one day I might come across them, you never know do you?

Thanks again, I do appreciate it.

Yesterday Geoff and I went to bristol Asda to do our christmas shopping.
What an experiment that was.

It is about 80 miles away and we managed to get there about midday. We were hungry and decided to go to the cafe in Asda, well, the queue was soooo long.
After waiting about 20 mins to get served I admit I was a little irritated by then.
we asked for fish and chips and the lady, who was in her eighties, explained that it was cooking.
I asked how long it would take and she said about 5 mins.
Another lady who heard this gave the women a dirty look and said no, it would be about 20 mins as they have just put it in the fryer.
The lady who served us went off and came back with a great big board with a number on it,
"Here,' She said. "Take this and go and sit down, you can back for it when it's cooked."
I was rather startled at this and told her politely but quite firmly we will have something else instead.
"Oh." She replied. "What would you like then?" She asked in rather a loud voice.
I quickly looked around and saw some pies.
"Oh Two pies and chips please." I said.
She strutted off and got one plate.
She served me with the pie and chips and started to go to the next customer.
"Er, excuse me." I said. "Two please." As I nodded at the pie and chips on my plate.
"tut, tut, tut," she went. and stormed off to get another plate.
She came back and put the pie on and then over loaded the plate with the chips.
If you could have read my mind at that time you not believe what I was calling her.
She passed the plate to me and then asked if I wanted any veg!

"No thankyou." I said as I turned and walked rather quickly away.

We found a seat and got our coffees. I must admit that by then we were laughing about it.

After we had eaten we went round the shop and brought must of it.
Jumpers, Dresses, you name it we brought it.
In actual fact the reason we went there is because every christmas Asda does a double discount day for their staff. (20%)
It is also a much bigger shop than the one I work for and you have a much better choice.

When we finally got through the checkouts off we went to the car and loaded up. Geoff said he needed some more petrol and they have got a petrol station right there so off we went to fill up.
Geoff filled the car and it came to £25.51
We always try to get it so it comes to the round pound, if you get my meaning, but it had just pipped over for another penny.

Off we went to pay for the petrol and an elderly man cheerily welcomed us. We told him what number we were at and he said:
"Thats £25.51 please."
Geoff gave him £30.01
"I'll give you the odd penny." Said geoff with a smile.
"Oh yes, thanks." Said the man. "That will help with the change."
The man at the till turned and was muttering to himself as he keyed in the amount we gave him.
He turned and gave geoff his change and said a cheery farewell.
We thanked him and drove off.
When we got home geoff got his change out of his pocket and stared at it.
I asked what was wrong.
"Well," Said Geoff, "I have just realised what change the man at the petrol station had given me, look,"
Geoff held out his hand and we burst out laughing. He had given geoff two much change as it should only have been £4.50
He had given geoff £7.50 and the penny back.
Well we did laugh as you can imagine.

So, yes we had a great day.
We'd have to do that again.

After doing all the housework I thought I'd go and sit down with a nice cup of coffee, when I found someone else in my seat.
Well, I couldn't disturb her, could I?

Here are some more new species.

On the left is a new form of squid in a bright red colour and on the right is a furry crab. Never been seen before.

Wonderful aren't they?

These two are new species scientist have found in Australia.

The fist one (left) is a 'smiling octopus' and the second one (right) is of a pygmy seahorse.

These have never been seen before and I think they are lovely.

It's amazing the new species they are finding, will print some more for you later.

I wondered if any of you could help me, it's a long shot but it's a funny thing really.
When we lived in Leicester in 1980- 1987, I used to read a detective book from the library.When I say detective I mean that the author was a detective in the police force and he wrote about a certain detective in his books. (British)
Now, this is where it gets complicated, geoff and I was talking about it the other night and I just could not recall the authors name. Nor could I recall the detectives name!

I absolutely loved this man, both the author and the detective and I cannot understand how I forgot his name, although it is 20 years or more.

I remember one of the titles, I believe it was his last book, it was:
"The death of ......." (name of the detective)

As I said it's a long shot but do any of you know who I am talking about????

P.S. I have been to the library and many book shops and had a look around at the crime authors books, hoping to jog my memory a bit, you know, hoping to see his name. (if I did I know I would remember it) but I did not see anything.

I would appreciate it if any of you can help me......even if it is a long time ago!

Well, how nice this is.
I'm sat here at our old computer blogging at last.
As I explained that blxxxxy Pipex cut us off and we hadn't done anything wrong. Stupid people.
We have a new telephone line, new telephone number and a new broadband isp.
It must have took about 3hrs for our friend Frank to set us up this morning, he knows what to do but it just took a long time to do it.
When we had finally got on line we went to our email accounts and guess what? we then could not remember our passwords. Poor frank, he was nearly pulling his hair out, he hasn't got a lot anyway so it wouldn't have took long!
We kept trying to sign in and it kept saying wrong password, because we were guessing it thats why, anyway, it asked us if we wanted to change our password, this we did, and then we were able to get on our email page.
Geoff had 42 emails and I had 108.
I have just got through them all.
Thanks to all of you who sent me one.

Anyway, will clock off now, will blog again soon, I have missed you all so much, great to be back.

Hooray, Hooray, I'm back in blogging land and on our own computer.

Will blog tonight as I have a lot ot catch up on with reading all yours (3 months worth)!

Also I have to read my emails now, 108 of them, so thanks if you have sent me one. Will reply as soon as I can.

Thanks to frank who has set it all up for us.

Look forward to to being back with you all, have missed you dreadfully.

xxx

Hi, just to let you know I'm still alive, only just though.
The problems we are having with Pipex is unbelievable.
They will no let us go, so we have now run BT and asked for a new phone number and new line so we can start again.
Pipex have cut us off and we have asked for our mac (???) number,so we can sign up with someone else, they have not sent it. They have promised to 'untag us'........they haven't.
They tell us they have spoken to us on our phone....they haven't, not once.
They have emailed us about the situation......they cut us off three months ago.
it really is a mess and we are getting so, so angry with them.
What we have done is we have asked BT for a new phone number and a new line, so we can set up with someone else, probably BT, we still have to wait until 30/10 anyway.
Long time to wait but better than being 'held to ransom' by them. It was their fault in the first place.
It isn't 'up pompeii, it's up Pipex'!!!
Anyway, will explain it properly when back on my own puter, I don't like taking to much time on franks puter as it is his work puter.

So, will probably blog one more time before the 30/10 , so hope you are all well, and yes noddy I am on par!!

Missing you all, god bless.

Hi, I,m back.
I am at the moment blogging on a friends computer,franks, because we are still having probs with ours.He has a laptop and it's a bit difficult because I find it so small to work on. The computer at home is one that is on a table and it has a seperate keyboard like a typewriter. This is a bit smalll for me!
Anyway, frank has kindly let me use his.
Frank is a builder by trade and he works for himself, but at the moment he is off sick because while at work he fell off a ladder and broke two bones in his leg. He had it plaster for about 6weeks and the doctor wanted him to keep it on for another month but frank said no........so they took it off. He is recovering well now, but he has a lot of physiotherapy to do.
The last post I did was a bit of a laugh because when we told frank what had happened he lent me this one, so I was sitting on his sofa with this on my lap. Not the best position to be in when trying to blog.
Anyway, thankyou for your comments, they were very kind, and yes, I miss this soooo much you wouldn't believe it. I can't read yours so when we get back on air, so to speak, I have a lot of catching up to do.

The holiday was great, we went to Torquay. It rained for the first few days but we still went out and about. The moors was my fav, it was beautiful. will print photos as soon as I can
The hotel was great although there was only one lift and that was slow, we were on the third floor, and as you can imagine, they were a lot of elderly people there and they were slow too. So you had to plan an hour head of time!!

Will tell you more and I must tell you about Par, the swedish waiter.

Missing you all like mad.............

Take care.

Hopefully will be back soon.

hi, sorry i haven't posted but we have had trouble with the puter,well, the pipex people whowe were connectede too!! they have disconnectedus! we have paid them bu they are saying we haven't! I am on a friends lap top and can't use it properly.

On hols now and will sort it out when we get back, so sorry about that.

missed you all so much, take care.

I saw this picture of these tulips and had to print it.

They are my alltime favourite flowers.

The colour is wonderful.

Top: Three White Tiger cubs

Left: Golden Eagle

Right: Peacock.

There is one thing that these three have in common.

They are all Albinos.

This is a rare occasion in the animal world. No-one really knows why the one 'gene' that gives us all colour, is missing from these animals.

Just a rare thing to happen.

Every month I receive the national geographic magazine and this is where I got these photo from. Aren't they lovely?
I wish I could take photos like these.
The one on the left is a 'nightjar' and the one on the right is a 'humming bird.'

Beautiful.

Eastern Bluebird.



I just had to share this picture with you.

Isn't it just so beautiful?

The history of the Salvation Army in World War 1.

Evangeline Booth, National Commander, April 1918.

The popularity that came to the Salvation Army as a result of it's overseas work during World War 1 was greatly out of proportion to the quantity-though not the quality-of it's service.
The entire overseas assignment of officers was 241 men and women, with supplement workers bringing the total to about 500 individuals. These were backed up by 268 members in the United States.
In france the salvation army won the affection of the 'doughboys' and the gratitude and respect of the whole nation, yet the spirit of those salvationists who went to france was no different from those whose stayed in america and ran slum nurseries, homes for the destitute men and women.
But the eyes of the nation were on those who went to france, and millions of americans learned of the spirit of the s.a. (salvation army) for the first time.

The director of war work in France was Lietenant Colonel William S. Barker, who left new York with adjutant Bertram Rodda on June 30th 1917.
Armed with a letter of recommendation from Joseph P. Tumulty, president Wilson's secretary. who arranged for him to see General Pershing.

Meanwhile in the united States,preperations were underway to follow the boys overseas. Evageline Booth, national commander of the s.a. borrowed $25,000 from international headquaters to finance the war work.

Colonel Barker asked for some women to help them with their cause and although Evengeline Booth was surprised at his request she carefully selected women officers and sent them over to france.
The work of the 'sallies' justified Barkers wisdom in making this request.
The salvation army in france first went to work in the area of the First Division.
The first division landed in france on august 22nd 1917 and work on the first division began on september 1st.
The first 'hutment' as it was called, was a long sectional building 40 by 150 feet with 10 windows on each side. It had staff of five men and six women, all of whom were musicians, who gave concerts and conducted long services in addition to operating the canteen. They also gave bible classes but their building was available to other denominations or fraternal orders. In it Jewish services were held and on one occasion the Loyal Order of Moose conducted an initiation.
A clothes-mending service was offered by the girl officers.
The first hut would multiply by a factor of 400 over the next 15 months. The tiny group of salvantionists and co-workers would set up that number of huts, hostel and rest rooms, all as nearly like home as human ingenuity could make them, some right on the front lines.

Although the doughnut became the symbol of the s.a. in france, pies and cakes were also baked by the women in crude ovens, and lemonade was served to hot and thirsty troops as well.
It was not just the home cooking but also the spirit with which it was served that captivated the men.
The simple secret was that the salvationist were serving not only the soldiers but God, and they brought to mind thoughts of home and their families.
At the s.a. hut the men could men could not only bring their uniforms to be mended, they could also bring their problems to share. As buttons were sewn on, a brief message of help was offered.

Soldiers in france often had more money than opportunites to spend and to discourage gambling and wines and spirits the s.a. officers encouraged the soldiers to take advantage of the s.a.'s money-transfer system. Soldiers would give their money to an s.a. officer who would enter the sum on a money order blank and send it to National Headquarters in New York. From their it went to the corps officers nearest the soldiers home who would then deliver the money in person to the soldiers family or nearest relative.
The money-transfer plan also worked in reverse on occasion when friends sent money to soldiers overseas.

One of the things that the american soldiers marveled at was the fact that the s.a. followed them right to the front. the women as well. Often they were in danger from shells and gas.

Financial support fir the s.a. war programme came with a rush. A plea for a million dollars, endorsed by president Wilson and secretary of War Newton Baker in december 1917 was soon answered.
In 1918 the s.a. joined the YMCA, YWCA,War camp community service, National Catholic War Council, Jewish Welfare Board and the American Library Association in a United War Work Campaign to raise $170 million of which the s.a. was to receive $3.5 million.
This drive was underway when the armistice was signed on November 11th 1918.

S.A. war work in (europe) did not end with the armistice, hospital visitation and nursing aid continued after the war, as did other services for the troops in France and later occupied germany.

The salvationists were frequently given permission to get a watch repaired or to buy a christmas or birthday gift for a loved one.

They helped the troops returning home by sending telegrams announcing their expected return date and time and even helping families re-unite at busy docks.

I think we would all agree what wonderful work they did then and that they have continued to do their wonderful work.

I also did the 'whats your musical taste'

Your musical tastes are upbeat and conventional.
You are an easy going, optomistic person.
Family and friends are important to you.
You enjoy caring for and helping others.
You thrive in a tranquil enviroment, and you do your best to keep things peaceful.
You enjoy your life.
You have your priorities straight.

Seems like there is only one result, don't you!!

Deep space

This beautiful picture was taken by ACS (Advanced Camera for Surveys) on the hubble space telescope.
It shows two swirling galaxies on the upper left hand side of the photo.
A closer look has revealed a paradox:

Stars of 3 vastly different ages exist in a cluster that should have formed at about the same time.

These stars are 8billion years old.

Isn't that a lovely photo?

This lovely fish is in fact a new species.

The scientist have discovered a missing link in the evolution of bizarre flatfish.

ct scan of 50-million-year-old fossils have revealed an intermediate species between primitive flatfish ,they are the ones with both eyes on one side of their heads, and the 'modern' lopsided version (like this one) which includes flounder, sole and halibut.

The change has happened slowly over the years, in a way with evolution. It did not happen suddenly as some scientist think.

The gap between the two flatfish was because of an unknown animal which had a severe mutation that was passed down through the generations.

No-one knows why they have changed like this and some scientist are putting it down to 'intelligent design.'

For example, Lee James Best,Jr, wrote in his 2003 book about 'God and fallacy in the theory of evolution.

"As with aimless squeezing of wet clay, without a mold or other purposeful directed pressures," He wrote. "an intended end to a construction project would occur."

The new discovery, however, is unlikely to change the minds of many creationists.

Zoologist Frank Sherwin, science editor for the institute for Creation research, called the findings 'underwhelming'

"We do not deny that there is a minor variation that occurs within created groups or kinds." He Said. adding that he fails to see the new paper as evidence of a progression from one flatfish to another.

"Fish have always been fish,all the way down to the lower Cambrian." He says.

"We have no problem with the variation within flatfish. What we are asking is: "Show me how a fish came from a nonfish ancestor."

Some of the argument is that the asymmetrical eye configuration can easily be seen as intelligent, because it is advantageous to flatfish survival.

The eyes allows the flatfish to use both their eyes to look up when lying on the seafloor.

Paleontologist Matt Friedman, has been to the natural history museums all over the world to look at these flatfish and says:

"In more than one specimen, one side of the skull looked normal, but the other side of the head, the eye was moved up. "

It's possible that even the intermediate eye position would have provided an evolutionary advantage for the fish.

"Living flatfish don't lie completely flat on the sea floor, they prop themselves up with their fins".

More than 500 species of flatfishes now live in fresh and salt water.

They range in size from 4inches to 7 feet and can weigh up to 720 pounds.

Sean (vic) Reeve.

23rd June 1979---17th June 2008

When we heard the devastating news about sean we just couldn't believe it, as I'm sure you can imagine.
But what made it worse was that sean only had less than a week to go. He was coming home on Sunday 22nd June 2008.

They brought sean home on Monday 23rd June 2008.

That was his birthday.

He would have been 29.

Just one of those things that happen, I guess.

Bob and Rosaleen decided to kep sean in their house on thursday 3rd July so all his friends and family can pay their last respect. Rosaleen said their house was full that night as people came to see sean.

On the Friday 4th July 2008 we arrived at St. Josephs church in Brighton at 1p.m.There were police officers everywhere. As we walked into the church it took our breath away, it was packed.
They were at least 300 people.

We were shown to our seats two rows from the front and my sister and her daughter and son were already there. We joined them.

At 1.45p.m. my brother bob and his wife rosaleen walked in and took their seats at the front.

Shortly afterwards the music started as they brought sean in and laid him at the front of the stage.

The priest welcomed us and started to talk about sean and his family. (Rosaleen is catholic)

His mother Rosaleen, his father Robert, his brother Neil and his sister Heidi.

Sean was the youngest of three.

Sean had written a 11 page 'will' and the priest started to read it out to us.

How sean loved his mother with all his heart and how his father was his hero.

How he used to 'fight' with his brother and sister, as you do when you were younger.

We listened to this and could just imagine sean sitting there writing it probably with a smile on his face.

We also learned that sean had a masters degree in chemistry and management consultant.

He had set up a charity to help the children of Afghanistan as they had no schooling and seans charity was trying to get them books to read.

An hour went by and they then took sean back to the hearse.
We all gathered outside and walked behind the hearse to the crematorium.
The police had stopped all traffic.

It took about 15 minutes to walk there and we all felt so proud and many people stopped and took their hats off and even firemen had stopped their fire engine and stood to attention as we walked by.
It was mind blowing.

On arriving at the crem the pall bearers were 5 of seans friends, the 6th one was bob. His father.

He took his son into the crematorium with such pride.

In the crematorium heidi, his sister said a few words about the brother she loved and how she was going to miss him and a friend of his said how well loved and respected sean was.

Then the curtains closed.

Most of the people there was seans friends who were in the SAS with him.
I must say I have never met such nice gentlemen in my life, and I mean gentlemen.
No lady stood as they immediately gave up their seats for them, and they stood back while the family went outside and look at the wonderful flowers that had been sent to the crematorium.

We were all invited to go to Brighton Racecourse for the wake. A room had been booked for us.
It started as you can imagine with a rush to the bar, the queue was knee deep, as they say.
But once we all got our drinks and sat down talking we noticed a video camera and a screen in the corner of the room. We watched as it showed sean over and over again. All different photos of him and all different poses. By that I mean just general photos, some taken when he was younger and some recently, and some of him in uniform.
It was lovely to look at and it was not over powering as you could look away anytime and not be seen to be rude.
It was your choice.
All this time there was seans favourite music playing, he loved the irish music.

After about an hour the waitresses came out carrying large tins and put them on a table. This went on for some time.
Then a gentleman announced that 'dinner is served'

There was a bit of a rush, as you can imagine, but it wasn't until you went up and had a look at what they serving you suddenly realized just what a spread it was.

Curries, chicken and vegetable.
Potatoes,
Onion bhajees,,
Popadoms,
You name it, it was there. Everything you could get in a indian restaurant.

It was seans favourite food.

Soon everyone was laughing and talking, introducing themselves to each other, and having a merry time.
I mean no offence by this but we knew this is what sean wanted.

Two gentlemen walked in, one carrying a violin and the other a small drum.
They sat down at a table and started to play the real 'Irish' music.
We clapped and cheered them.
When sean was at home, in brighton, he used to go to the local pub on a tuesday night and listen to these two men playing and singing the irish music. He loved it.
When they heard what had happened to sean they volunterred to come down to the race course and play 'for him.'
It was wonderful.

It really was a very emotional day as you can imagine but sean always said he wanted a happy time and even told everyone not to wear black.
We did of course, out of respect, but we all wore something white or blue to go with it.

Bob and Rosaleen never sat down all day, they were talking to everyone and just mixing with us all.
Although they were 'happy' and laughing you could see the sadness in their eyes.

Geoff and I left at about 11.30p.m. and left my sister and her family there, the next day she told us that it was still going on at about 2.30.am
Just how sean would have wanted it.

At the end of seans 'will' he put a little message for us all to read, It read as follows:

"Finally,of course,the funeral should be followed with a good old fashioned drinkin' session, including all my favourite music. (Goron, Levellers, Pogues, Dubliners, Toots, etc. you know!!!) The last man standing gets my seal of approval! Remember-no fighting!"

Thats exactly what it was, a good old fashioned drinking session (no-one was drunk, by the way)

It was a funeral fit for a king.

For thoughts:

I was so pleased when I saw those lovely strawberries you grew. This is the one I have grown!!!

Don't want to eat it though!!

Sean's funeral will be held in Brighton on Friday 4-7-08.
At 2.00pm

As I said before, geoff and I went to spain for a few days last week.
Two years ago we went to Santander and we loved it. We always wanted to go back.
This was an unexpected holiday with love from Laura.
Laura had booked three days in santander for herself and martin, her husband. She has just finished her treatment for breast cancer and thought a few days away will do her and martin good.
Unfortunately, martin, who is a director, could not get the days of work and although laura was devastated that he couldn't get the time off work she ran geoff and offered the holiday to us. Needless to say we said yes please.
So off we go.
We were to catch the ferry at 4.00pm on sunday at plymouth and we would arrive at santander monday morning at 11.30am.
I have been on a ferry before for a couple of hours to go france. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But when we got on the ferry something happened to me and I felt so ill. I did not feel sick but so dizzy, almost as if I was drunk. I hated it. The sea was so calm so I don't know why I was feeling the way I did but the first thing I did was check how many life boats there were.
There was many of them, but it still didn't make me feel any safer.
We took our luggage to our cabin and then went on deck to get some fresh air (and to have a ciggie).
After about an hour of watching the sea which was still so calm,we went into one of the many bars and had one glass of wine, that was enough. My head was even worse than before. Thinking about it logically, I suppose you could say I should not have one drink but at the time it seemed like a good idea. Geoff does not drink hardly any so he just had the two.
Later on we felt hungry and went into a cafe, and had a lovely ham salad. That was all I wanted as I wasn't particulary hungry but felt I should eat something.
Still my head was spinning.
We went back into the bar and had coffees this time and I did feel better.
The entertainment on the ferry was really good.
There was a couple of singers and then a magician came on. Well, I'm not a lover of magicians but I must admit this man was really good. On one of the acts he stood behind a see through curtain and his assistant (a young lady) went behind him and she pulled and pushed her way struggled 'through him'. It was very good and everyone clapped and cheered.
It took my mind off the way I was feeling I must admit.
The magician finished and suddenly we realizes how tired we were and went to the cabin.
The cabin:
One bed and another on top with a ladder.(bunk beds in other words)
Small toilet and shower but you had to be about 4ft nothing to get in it.
A very small table top with a little lamp on it.

Guess who had to get up the ladder and sleep on the top bunk bed???
Yes, thats right.

I am claustrophobic and that cabin did nothing to relive me of that.

Climbing up the bloody ladder I nearly fell off as the boat swayed a little, and I grabbed the sheets on top of the bed only to pull that away from the mattress.
I screamed and geoff pushed me up by my buttocks, he did it that hard I banged my head and wobbled for about a week.
I held on to the mattress even more.

Got into bed and slept on my side rather than my back as geoff said it will relive me of feeling dizzy.
It did not.
We kept the light on as I didn't want to drown in the dark.
I also kept my clothes on as I didn't want to drown in the nude.

Tossing and turning for most of the night eventually I dropped of to sleep. we both woke up about 5.30 am.
We got up and went out on deck for some fesh air (and to have a ciggie)

The cafe didn't open for breakfast until 7.30am so we got some drinks out of a machine which we had found after wandering around the ship for an hour.
Sitting down eating our breakfast geoff asked me if I was alright and did I feel better. Well, yes I did feel a little better and said so.
Good he said. You didn't hear the crashing and banging at 4.30.am this morning then? He asked.
I choked on my coffee and said no I hadn't.
He smiled and explained that for about an hour the bloody ferry had been rolling from side to side up and down and there was a lot of banging and crashing going on. Even geoff admitted he felt uneasy about it.

Many people were talking about it at breakfast because it had scared them although a lot of them sailed before.

I had slept through it all.

At 11.30am we left the ferry and I couldn't be better for it.


Next:
our 3 days in spain.

Ice on Mars

These pictures are from Phoenix the spacecraft that landed on the planet Mars on 25 June 2008.

Phoenix will also bring back some martian soil.

There has always been speculation about whether water is or ever has been on Mars and these pictures, hopefully confirm that.

That means that there could be micro organisms on Mars.

What else may we find?

We have always called mars our 'sister' planet because she is so much like ours although she is devoid of life. Or life as we know it anyway.

But now, after months of speculation could this be the proof we are looking for? Was there some form of life many, many years ago, or has she always been barren?

It looks like that there could have been a possibility of some form of life a long time ago, that has now dried up.

I can't wait to hear what the scientist find out. I find it fascinating.

Isn't it wonderful that we are able to send spacecraft up into space to find these things out, what else may we find out about our neighbouring planets?

As you probably know the four soldiers were flown home yesterday. My brother, bob and my sister-in-law Rosaleen (Seans mum and dad) were there and although the T.V. were there filming this they did not show sean coming out of the aeroplane because the pall bearers are SAS as well and they cannot be recognised.
We still do not know when the funeral will be held or even where, but I will let you know as soon as we are told.

I would like to say a big thankyou for your very kind thoughts and prayers. I do not know what I would have done without you at this time.
I have read your comments over and over again, it gave me such comfort.

Thankyou again.

Geoff and I have just got back from a short holiday in Spain, when my mother, Ruth, phoned us to tell us some sad news.

The photo is of my nephew Sean, who was one of four soldiers killed on 17th June 2008 during an operation in Afhanistan.

He is 28 years old.

He was over there for 6 months and was to return on Sunday 22nd June 2008.

The other three who also lost their lives are:

Corporal Sarah Bryant

Lane corporal Richard Larkin

Corporal Paul Stout

He leaves behind:

His father Robert and his mother Roseleen his brother Neil and his sister Heidi.

My brother, bob, lives in Brighton and my sister yvonne has gone down there with her daughter Dawn and her son Darren.

We will be going down next week.

No words can describe our grief.

These pictures are of Mars our neighbouring planet.

The photograph on the right is Mars in it's natural place from the earth.

The one on the left was taken back in August 2003.

This was the closest mars had been to Earth for over many, many years. Mars has always moved in a 'boomerang' fashion, coming close to the Earth and then moving back out into space. But on this occasion it was so close you could actually see a red glow on the Earth's surface and many photos was taken of this occurrence. It was so unusual.

Normal distance from Earth:

173 million miles

On this occasion it was only:

34.65 million miles away from the Earth.

No-one really knows why it came so close.

It will be a long time before this happens again.

A Joke for Dickiebo.

A young indian wondered how his chief decided what to call all the young ones.
So, one day, he went up to the chiefs tent and asked if he could speak to his chief. He was allowed in and the chief told him to sit down.
"My son," he said. "what do you want?"
The boy looked at the chief and said: "I wondered chief, how do you decide what to call all the children?"
"Aaahhhh, my son." The chief said smiling. "let me tell you, it is an old warrior way and we have been doing it for years. When you become chief you too will do the same."
The chief looked at the young boy and stared at him.
"My son, when a child is born, I name him/her the first thing I see. If a child is born and I see a stream then I call him/her 'running water' If I see the moon then I name him/her 'moon' If I see a bear then I name him/her 'running bear'."
The chief stopped and looked at the young boys face. The young boy looked taken aback.
The chief leaned forward and said:
"Why do you ask 'two fucking dogs?'

Air guns - Pyramyd Air Report: Diana 27 - a golden oldie

Air guns - Pyramyd Air Report: Diana 27 - a golden oldie

Dickiebo, Is this the 'diana' gun you mean?
Tried to get the actual picture on my blog but couldn't, well, you know what I'm like!


Geoff did have a 'diana' gun, and he loved it.
Apparently, every kid on the block wanted one and he was lucky enough to have one.
He loved it.
But was yours so hard to use? Geoff said you had to push the barrel down to cock it and it was very hard to do. Also the gun was so bent it shot round corners!!!

Thanks Dickiebo.

Thought it time to lighten things up a bit, now that the sun is shining.

So, here's a few pics for you.

Is this what they call 'sleeping policemen' ?

These are 16 pandas from China.

Aren't they so cute?

Thanks for sending me these pictures, David, I've just got to show them to everybody.

I went to work this morning, now since they stopped paying double time for Sundays I must admit I have stopped working on Sundays. But with a hefty dental bill to pay I said to geoff that I would have to do some overtime.
So off I went.
I started at 10.00am and finished at 1.30pm. I find that 31/2 hours is just enough hours to do as overtime, so I was happy with that.
As I was leaving I asked geoff to put the meat on about 12.00pm and I would see to the rest of the meal when I came home, as I usually cook the roasts on sundays. This he agreed.
Arriving home about 1.30pm. I went into the kitchen and sure enough the meat was cooking lovely. The veg had been prepared and the potatoes were waiting to go in.
"Don't touch anything" Geoff said. "I'll cook the roast today as you have been to work."
Great I thought. I didn't argue with him.

I made us a drink and sat down. Suddenly I looked at the time and realised that the potatoes should have gone in. When I said this to geoff he agreed and just sat there.
So I went in the kitchen and put them in the oven.

I then realised that the veg should have been cooking and said so to geoff so he went in to the kitchen and put them on. We had sprouts and cabbage.
Time went on and I got a bit worried when I couldn't 'smell' them cooking. I asked geoff about it and he said he only put them on a low light.
I walked into the kitchen and sure enough they were, on a very low light. They hadn't even boiled yet. Knowing that the meat and potatoes where cooking I turned the veg up and got them to the boil. I then turned them down to cook slowly.
Time went on and I asked geoff to check them, which he did but did not look in the oven at the meat. Realizing this I went into the kitchen and opened the oven door and turned the meat and potatoes.
I saw the gravy had been made but when I asked him if he had put some of the meat fat into it he said no, so I did that.
I came into the kitchen and geoff asked me if the meat was alright I explained that it only needed another 10 mins or so.
10 minutes later goeff asked me to get the meat out and leave it to rest.( We always do this.)
So back I went and got the meat out of the oven and left it to rest. In the meantime I had put the gravy on as geoff seemed to have forgotten about this. A roast is no good without loads of gravy, is it?
10 mins later goeff went out to prepare the roast and after another 10 mins I asked if he was alright. He said he was but needed a bit of help. I went into the kitchen and as he was cutting the meat up I realized he hadn't seived the veg, it was still cooking.
I got the collender out and seived the veg and at the same time got the potatoes out of the oven and put them on the plates.
I put the gravy on as well.

Geoff brought the dinner in and with a glass of wine we had a lovely meal.
Afterwards, geoff looked at me and said:
"That was a lovely meal I cooked wasn't it?"

"Er, yes dear." I said.

Oh yes, and guess who washed up?

Yes, thats right.....me......of course.

Bah........men.

On the 25th May Nightjack did a very interesting blog concerning the powers of the police to 'stop and search'.
He referred to the 'suss law of 1824'

I have gone into this seriously because although I said I did not agree with 'stop and search' I needed to know just what is 'The suss law'.

This is what the suss law means:

In Britain, the sus law was the informal name for a stop-and -search law that permitted a police officer to act on suspicion or 'sus' alone.

It was based upon sections 4 and 6 of the Vagrancy act 1824 which made it 'illegal for a suspected person or reputed thief to frequent or loiter in a public place with intent to commit an arrestable offence' and effectively permitted the police to stop and search and even arrest anyone they chose, purely on the basis of suspicion as a crime-prevention tactic.

The law caused much discontent among certain sections of the population and was abolished following riots in St. Pauls Bristol and in Brixton London and Toxteth Liverpool in 1981, because its alleged abuse was believed to be a contributory factor to these events.

Following Lord Scarman's enquiry into the the cause of the Brixtons riots.

The sus law was dropped.

Subsequent British legislation which makes provision for the police to act on the basis of suspicion alone has been denounced as 'another suss law' by opponents of proposals to grant British police 'stop and question' powers.

I would have serious doubts whether this law would work,I honestly think this law should not be brought back in purely because of any confusion over the word 'suspicion'.

What does that mean?

How do you define 'suspicious act'?

What would be the situation if a woman was stopped and searched?

Does that mean a body search or just pockets and handbags?
I would not take lightly to my personal belongings being empted into the streets with everyone watching and walking by, and knowing that members of the public will be thinking:
"What has she done?"

When I have 'done' nothing but walk down a street and an officer 'thinks' I look suspicious.

I have great reservations about this law.

I was looking through Dickiebos blog yesterday when I came across this.
He had received an meme from Missy, who had asked him about his fave things.
Dickiebo had emailed me about it as well, so I willingly said I would do it as well.

Here it is:

4 jobs I have had:

computer operator, wages clerk, cleaner, shop assistant.

4 movies I have watched time and again:

Brief Encounter ( I know every word) On Golden Pond, Kill Bill, Zulu. (At least 6 times if not more)

4 places I have lived:

Oxford, Selly Oak, Leicester, Worcestershire.

4 T V shows I watch:

New Tricks, Crime Channel (on News and Documentary) The Universe, (Docs again) The Mummy roadshow.(or any of the 'Mummies' programmes)

4 places I have been:

Loch Ness, Scotland.(twice) Eastbourne, Santandor (spain)

4 people who have emailed me on a regular basis:

Nobody on a regular basis as such but I have received emails from Dickiebo, Twining, deb and Noddy.

4 favourite foods:

Curry, fish and chips, Roasts, and curry (again)

4 places I would like to be right now:

At home, Oxford, Eastbourne, Anywhere peaceful.

4 family and friends I think will respond:

I'm not sure whether 4 people would respond. As you are all anonymous anyway!!!

Things I am looking forward to this year:

Nice weather, a good pay rise, (LOL) Hols in Torquay

So, Thanks Dickiebo, I enjoyed doing this.

I have said in the past that I was going to try to give up smoking. (again) Well, I have tried.
But I haven't succeeded.

The first thing I did was buy some 'patches'
You have two boxes of patches with 5 in each box,you put one patch on every 24hours, and you start off with the strongest and after 10 days you go on to the medium strength ones and then after another 10 days you go on to the lower strength ones. By then you should be able to manage without them.
Well,never again will I use those.

The reason?

They give you nightmares.
Terrible evil nightmares.

I smoked more.

It is recognised that they do this, the reason I am not sure.

There must be an easier way.....somehow.

I really love Snowdrop, pictured, she looks so innocent doesn't she? She was...........

Until last night.

She always goes out in the evenings just for an hour or two, then she stays in overnight.

Well, we let her out, she doesn't go far she usually stays in the gardens,(my next door neighbours) she has got a catflap but she never uses it, she like to come through the patio door.

Just like the queen.

So I went to let her in and I nearly died, in her mouth she had a big bird. !!! Shock, horror.

I was hysterical, waving my arms about and jumping up and down screaming:"Shes got a bird, shes got a bird!" Geoff was looking at me as if I've gone mad and he said:"What do you mean?"

"Shes got a bird........... in her mouth!!" I screamed.

"Oh," said geoff. "Thats a first."

Snowdrop, seeing me, went all excited and was running around the garden and swinging the bird in her mouth, she had it by the neck and it was dead, she then flipped it up into mid air and chased it around the garden.

I felt sick.

Snowdrop then decided she would come in and what did she do? She came through the catflap. Neither geoff nor I had thought to close it and she must have known that.

In she came really excited, flinging it around and throwing it up in the air, while I stood there screaming at geoff to get rid of it. (I was really girlie you know.)

Geoff got up and asked me to get a dustpan and brush, which I did rather quickly, while he called snowdrop to distract her attention, but she wasn't having it. The bird came too.

After he called her a few times she did go to him and he rushed around and picked the bird up with the dustpan and brush and took it out in the garden to put it in the bin.

Well, snowdrop looked really disappointed at geoffs actions and stalked off.

I was relieved it was all over.

I went and put the kettle on and made a cup of tea, I walked into the lounge to see snowdrop at the door.........with another dead bird in her mouth.

I screamed.

geoff told me to leave her alone because that is what cats do. I could not believe that that was our snowdrop, she wouldn't harm a flea. Well, not normally.

Geoff explained she must have found a nest but where that was we don't know.

What happened to the bird?

Well about ten minutes later, I found a pair of birds feet by the patio door.

YUK,YUK.

I never spoke to her again that night.

Anyone for a drink?

Four years ago, we went on holiday and took this photograph, when it was developed we thought it was so lovely we had it enlarged and framed.

As this is my first time I have printed photos I did it twice to just make sure it was alright to see.

This was taken in Scotland but:

Can you guess where this was taken from?

P.S. I'll probably be driving you mad with photos now I know how to do it.

I'm always the last to know!

Well, what some lovely weather we are having. I know, don't speak to soon.
It is great to get up and not put the fire on or come home shivering and sitting on top of the fire.
Just get the old jeans and a T-shirt out and I'm happy.
Oh, yes, and take those winter socks off as well.

Taking of socks what is it about british gents and their socks?
Why oh why do they have to wear them with..........shorts.

The shorts are great, quite long, below the knee and then the socks.
The socks come up to their knees.

It looks like their trousers have divorced their shoes.

We do laugh at the male customers and we all look out for the funniest ones. (sorry, but we do!)When we see one we send messages to each other, whispering and nodding.

Like I said to one of the girls today: "Theres nothing funnier than a naked man wearing just his socks."
I don't know why but she did laugh. Guess she knows what I mean.

Two weeks ago Geoff and I often popped down to Oxford to see the family. We visit them roughly once a month or so, sometimes it is longer depending on what we are doing.
So, off we go and we have a lovely day seeing everybody.
My mother, Ruth and my stepfather Bruce, my sister Yvonne,Geoffs daughter Wanda. Wanda is the only one who actually lives in Oxford now as his other daughter Sandra and her husband Simon has moved to Devon. Laura and Martin live in a little village in Oxfordshire so we pop in to see them on our way down to Oxford. Perrie his son and his girlfriend Tammy have now moved to France. Which is rather a long way to go in one day.
While we were there we were talking about when our next visit will be, when geoff remembered it was the may bank holiday. We looked at the calender and realized it was only two weeks away. So we said we would come down on Sunday bank holiday, 4/5/08.
My mum, Ruth and Bruce, said they would love that and so it was arranged.
We said our farewells and left on Sunday night.

Sunday, 4/5/08

Up we get and drive down to Oxford looking forward to seeing the family again.
We arrived in Oxford and Geoff dropped me off at my mums because he was going to see Wanda and was short of time.
As I arrived at their bungalow, I knocked the door and heard bruce exclaim:"It's annette."
My mum answered the door and looked surprised.
"Annette" she said. "Why didn't you let me know you were coming. I haven't even cooked you a meal?"
"Er, mum" I said gently. "we arranged this two weeks ago. We said we would come down this bank holiday weekend."
She turned and looked and looked at me.
"Oh,I didn't know you were coming."She said annoyingly.
She walked into the kitchen almost tutting.
"I haven't cooked you a meal, you have to go and get something." She said.
"Yes, o.k.I will, thats fine." I almost snapped. I was annoyed I admit.

So I popped across the road and went and got a frozen meal. That was fine I didn't mind that.

When we had finished my mum looked at me and said:"Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"
"MUM," I snapped. It was only two weeks ago we arranged this. We looked at the calender and realized it was the bank holiday and said we would come down today. You know we always come down bank holidays anyway."
"Well, I didn't know." She replied.
That afternoon we all went to see my sister, Yvonne, and had tea with her. Yvonne had no idea what we had arranged so she was non the wiser about the situation.
Still my mum kept insisting she didn't know we were coming.
But how could she forget in two weeks???

GGGGRRRRRRRR!!!

My mum will be 80 in 2 weeks time. I know I should be more understanding and allow for her age but it just got to me.
Bruce doesn't say a word about anything, he is so quiet. He just stays in the background all the time.

When geoff and I got in the car to go home I ranted a bit about what had happened and all I got from geoff was:"remember her age ......" etc etc.
As I said it is her birthday in two weeks time and she asked if we were going down that weekend (sunday) and I said yes we would.

I bet she won't forget that weekend.

So Boris Johnson won, did he?

God help us.